Monthly Archives: December 2017

At this very moment, for all peoples and nations of the Earth may not even the names of disease, famine, war, and suffering be heard. May pure conduct, merit, wealth and prosperity increase and may supreme good fortune and well … Continue reading →

When we see that form is emptiness, we attain great wisdom and no longer dwell in samsara. When we see that emptiness is form, we attain great compassion and no longer wish to dwell in nirvana. —Hua-yen Fazang, Brief Commentary … Continue reading →

Inasmuch as lay disciples develop faith, and motivate others to develop faith; cultivate virtue, and motivate others to cultivate virtue; are generous, and motivate others to be generous; are desirous of meeting with teachers, and motivate others to meet with teachers; are … Continue reading →

Just as grammarians begin with reading the alphabet, the Buddha teaches doctrines that students can bear. To some, he teaches doctrines for the reversal of sin; to some, those to win merit; to some, doctrines based on duality. To some, … Continue reading →

Equanimity is the mind that wishes liberation and enlightenment for friend and foe alike, but we might sometimes think this only requires that we not discriminate against our enemies. That is indeed so: we should not wish our enemies any … Continue reading →

Realizing that the world has always been a house on fire, we don’t clamor to find it being consumed by flames. And though we observe much that is ruined and worn, we have no eagerness to make repairs. —Ippen Shonin

Karma is action and consequence, cause and effect. We are not punished or rewarded for our actions. We merely experience their consequences. One could say that if water is poured on the floor, the floor gets wet for that reason. … Continue reading →

Little by little and from time to time the wise should remove their defilements the way a smith removes dross from silver. […] Just as the ocean slopes away gradually, inclines gradually, without any abrupt precipice, even so this Dharma-Vinaya … Continue reading →

Go forth, for the good of the many, for the happiness of the many, out of compassion for the world, for the benefit, for the welfare, for the gladness of holy and ordinary beings. —Buddha Shakyamuni, Mahavagga, Vinaya Pitaka

Buddhists are encouraged to love all living beings and not to restrict their love only to human beings. They should practice loving kindness towards every living being. The Buddha’s advice is that it is not right for us to take … Continue reading →